Marine water-closet



f 1,625,950 April 26, 1927. U. G. LEE

MARINE WATER CLOSE-T Filed Jams. 1925 2 sneetss'nqet' 1 attenua) April ze, lzv.

UQG.' LEE MARINE WATER CLOSET Filed Jan. 8, l925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue'ntoz Ulysses ZL e e @51g /m www@ Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCE.

UL'Yssns LEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGfNOR To U. s. LEE a oo. INC., or Orri- OAGO, ILLINOIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

MARINE WATER-CLOSET.

Application filed January My present invention relates to improvements in water closets designed especially `for marine use, this application being a conl'finnation in part of an application filed by me in the United States Patent @Hice on the 17th day of June, 1925, Serial No. 37,774.

Une object of the invention is to provide a water closet provided with water supply and suction pumps located in `separate compartments and operated by a single motor, both being located above the bottom of the bowl7 whereby a. certain amount of Water will always be retained in the bowl.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement with the supply pnmpqat the end of the drive shaft and the discharge pump located between the supply pump and motor.

I have also aimed to provide a construction in which the `supply pumpwill act in conjunction with a suction chamber, normal-ly closed to the entrance of sea water, but provided with an automatic suction-Operated control valve.

also I have aimed to provide a form of bowl havingan integral platform base for support *of the motor, pumps and associated parts, with convenient :arrangements for water supply and sewage discharge.

A. further object is provide a construction in which the supply .pump is always primed and ready to function properly.

The invention further aims to provide la coiistruotion, which. while embody-ing the above features, will be proof against the action or entry ofwater from outside of the boat.

Still another object is to provide simplified construct-ion capable of economical manufacture and ready assembly or repair.

Vifith these and other Objects in view, which will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the novel features of construction and arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, and defined by the appended claims.

W iat lat present consider the preferred embodiment of -my invention is illustrated in the acconip'anying drawings, in whichizw- Figure l is la side elevation showing my improved water closet as applied to a vessel, a portion of the hull of which is shown conventionally.

2 is a rear elevation partly broken away to show parts in section.

8, 1926. Serial N0. 180,030.

F ig. 3 is a section on line 2 2 of F ig. 2, and

Fig. 4i is a section On line ie-l of Fig. 2, partly broken away.

Referring by reference characters to this drawing, the @mineral l designates the closet bowl having the customary annular flushing conduit la communicating with the bowl by the openings or water passages n.. The base is formed with a rearwardly (left Fig. l) projecting integral shelf portion l1 which serves as a support for the flushing mechanism hereinafter described.

The bottoni of the bowl is provided with a discharge portion, or pipe 1 (preferably cast or formed integral therewith) which passes upward through the extension l1 to one side ofthe center of the base so as `to leave space for the supply and discharge pipes hereinafter described. The flushing mechanism comprises three main elements, to wit: a pump casing 2, a suction chamber 3 and a motor 4:, all carried by a bed plate adapted to be `bolted .to the .shelf formed by the rearward extension lb Vabove referred to.

Bed plate 5 has a vertical passage 5a to align respectively with the outlet .ofthe :bowl discharge lc and the suction pump intake (hereinafter described) and also horizontal ports or passages 5b and 5 for `sea water supply and sewage discharge, these terminating in nipples or short pipe extensions, :is shown in Figs. land 3, for the usual lead pipe 4connections to the exterior of the hull of the vessel.

riihe pump casing 2 is divided by a pa1=ti tion il", (Fig. into two compartments 2" and respectively, andthe partition il is preferably formed with a `separately insertableiand-removable portion 2d which may be in .the form of a circulardisc having a threaded periphery for screw connection with the Opening in the partition wall 2.

The compartment 2c has one side formed Ogen and adapted to be closed by the juxtaposed wall of the suction chamber 3, whichhas a port 3a near :the lower end 'thereof communicating `with the .pump chamber 2C. llithin the .pump chambers 2b and 2c are located the rotary` suction and supply pumps diand 6 respectively, .which lmay be .of any desired form,.preferably of impeller orrentrifugal type, as disclil emem bers having curved or straight radial blades, the edges of which face the fiuid admitting openings. The design of blades and shape of pump chambers may be o any approved or desired form, as will be obvious. The shaft a of the motor 4f is connected by a universal joint olf any approved type (shown conventionally at 7) to a pump shaft 8 which :asses through a suitable stuffing box 9 in the wall of the suction pipe, and carries at or adjacent the intake of the pump d paddles or the like S)a designed to break up sewage beiore it is acted on by the pump, thereby preventing clogging of the latter. rl`l1e inner wall of the pump chamber is also provided with projections b which cooperate with paddles 9CL in breaking up sewage. i

Preferably the pump is formed with an integral sleeve or hub which also carries the aforesaid paddles 9a. j

The shaft 8 is projected through a central opening in partition disc 2l and its free end carries the pump rotor (5.

ln the upper part of the pump casing is a chamber 2 which communicates with the pump chamber on the delivery side by a port provided with an upwardly opening check valve 10 which may be ot' the gravity type.

This chamber 2e constitutes the upper end oit' a passage 1()a which connects with the passage 5 in the base, hereinbefore referred to.

The delivery side (upper) of pump chamber 2c is connected with the bowl conduit 1 by a short pipe member 11 having one end bolted to the top oi" the pump casing in alignment with a delivery port therein (dotted lines Fig. 3) and the other end opening laterally and connected to the bowl as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being held in place by tie bolt 11, the joints being suitably packed. j

The suction casing 8 connects with the passage 5b in the base and carries an inlet pipe or short tube 12 which may conveniently have a threaded connection with the suction casing, as shown in Fig. 2, and has its lower end formed as or provided with a valve seat to cooperate with a downwardly opening valve 13. The inlet pipe 12 is open at its upper end and the valve is provided with a stem or rod 18a projecting upward through the stand pipe and connected at its upper end to a diaphragm 14 held in position by the dome-shaped cover 3" oi' the suction casing 3.

A spring 13b acting upwardly against the diaphragm tends to keep the valve closed, or a lever and weight may be provided to take the place of the spring.

Any suitable push button actuated switch mechanism preferably of the retarded type may be used for controlling the action of lle motor, as indicated conventionally at A casing 16 is provided for housing or enclosing the motor pump and associated mechanism, which casing may be used as the support for the seat and cover through hinge connections 17.

lThe pipe member 1l has a contracted portion as indicated at l1x into which extends the end ot' a pipe 20 which is in communication at its opposite end with the intake oit pump chamber 2l. Preferably the pump chamber intake is provided with an offset portion shown in Fig. f1, and designated 2X, into the upper wall oi which is tapped a cylinder member 2l carrying a strainer 21, the pipe 20 being connected to the upper end of cylinder member 21 and the latter forming an extension oi' pipe 20 and a convenient means ci connecting the latter and providing strainer carrying means. Pipe extends into the restricted portion of pipe or conduit member 11 and has its end facing in the direction ci the flow of water so that as the passage oi the water is accelerated by the contraction, a suction effeet on pipe 2O is produced.

F rom the foregoing description it is believed the construction and operation ol my invention will be readily understood, but it may be briefly stated as ollowszrlhe pump 6, as will be readily observed, will be normally submerged, due to the fact that the top of the inlet pipe and the outlet port from the pump chamber 2 arc both above the pump and at this time (when the motor is at rest) the water level in the bowl will stand at the level indicated by the dotted line It now the motor is started by operation of the push button, the pump 6 immediately creates suction in the suction chamber 3, which draws down on the diaphragm against the tension of spring 13b and opens the valve 13, allowing sea water to flow in and be supplied to the bowl as long as the motor is operating.

it this time the suction pump 5*l will be inoperative, as water level :n being' below thc level of the pump 5, the latter will not be submerged, and the tiret operation will be to raise the level in the bowl to say that indicated by dotted line y, or until the suction pump rotor 5 is submerged, whereupon it will at once begin to 'function and with draw the contents otI the bowl and discharge it to the exterior oi the vessel. The suction action ot' the water on pipe 20, hereinbe't'orc referred to, causes air to be withdrawn from the pump chamber 2 whereby water is free to flow into the suction pump chamber and prime the latter as soon as the howl level is raised to level y. Suction pump 5i" is made of greater capacity than supply pump G, as indicated by thc extra width of blades lill) ige-25,95@ z3 and larger port area, tor example, so that the 4latter withdraws water from the bowl *faster than it is supplied, dropping the water level to line e, whereupon air is withdrawn trom the bowl. This results in the suction pump losing its prime until the water again ri ses, when liquid discharge from the bowl is resumed, this intermittent action continuing as long as the motor circuit is closed.

It will be observed that as soon as the ejection pump 5d is primed and in operation, it produces a suction on pipe 20 which counteracts the suction on the, upper end thereot, which results in a passage ot' water downward through pipe 20, which has the cticct ot cien-ning the scren, and this occurs at every intermittent cycle.`

When the motor stops and `flow oi water through member l1 ceases, a portion oi"l the water drains down through pipe 20 and as soon as conduit ll is empty airis tree 'to pass through pipe 2O to the eduction pump inlet and the water in the eduction pump casing drains back into the bowl to aid in restoring the water level to that indicated at fr.

After the mot-or stops, the water drains 'from the suction pump casing back into the bowl, restoring the level to line ai, the parts being restored to position for renewed operation, as above described.

When the motor is at rest, as the valves lO and 123 are closed, entrance oi" sea water, due to wave or other causes, is prevented.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim is l. In a marine water closet, a bowl having inlet and outlet passages, supply and eduction pumps in said passages, the eduction pump having a greater capacity than the supply pump, means for operating said pumps simultaneously, and means for keeping the supply pump submerged in water while the eduction pump is allowed to drain bart; into the bowl,

2. In a marine water closet, the combination with the bowl eta pump casing having a pair of adjacent pump chambers, water supply and sewage eduction connections between the bowl and said chambers, centrifugal pump rotors located in said chambers, an operating shai't on which said rotors are mounted, said shatt extending through the sewage eduction chamber and into the water supply chamber, the rotor in said supply chamber being mounted on the end of the shaft.

3. In a marine water closet, a bowl having inlet and outletpassages, supply and eduction pumps in said passages, the eduction pump having a greater capacity than the supply pump, means ior simultaneously operating said pumps, there being a suction chamber on the intake side ot' the supply pump, a normally closed outwardly opening valve controlling the inlet ci" water to said suction chamber, and means whereby the suction created by said supply pum-p opens said valve.

e. In a marine water closet, the combination with the bowl and water supply and sewage eduction passages of a pump casing having a pair of juxtaposed pump chambers included in said passages, a suction chamber included in said water supply passage, said suction chamber having an inlet pipe eX tending above the pump intake, and a valve governing` the admission ot water to said in- -let pipe, and automatic sucton controlled means tor opening said valve to admit water.

5. In a marine water closet, the combination with the bowl and water supply and sewage eduction passages, ot a sewage eduction pump cooperating with the eduction passage, said water supply passage including a pump chamber' and an adjacent suction chamber, communicating at its lower end with said pump chamber, a bladed rotor in said pump chamber facing said con'imunication, an inlet pipe in said chamber having its lower end communicating with the water supply and its upper end opening into the suction chamber above the communication to the pump chamber, and a suction controlled valve governing the admission of water to said stand pipe.

6. A marine water closet according to claim 5, in which the valve` has a stem eX- tending through the inlet pipe connected at its upper end to a yieldable diaphragm.

7. In a marine water closet, the combination with the bowl and water supply thereto of a pump casing having sewage eduction pipe connections thereto, a bla-ded rotor in said casing, a shaft on which said rotor is mounted, said casing having an intake opening', and projections carried by said shaft in said intake opening, for breaking up sewage.

S. In a marine water closet, the combination with the bowl and water supply thereto ot a pump casing having sewage eduction pipe connections thereto, a bladed rotor in said casing, a shatton which said rotor is mounted, said casing having an intake opening, and projections carried by said shaft in said intake opening, the wall ot said intake opening having inwardly extending projections cooperating with the projections on the shaft, for breaking up sewage.

9. In a marine water closet, a bowl having a rim flushing channel, a rotary supply pump connected to supply water to said rim, an educ-tion pump connected to withdraw the bowl contents, both said pumps being located above the bottom of the bowl, means tor keeping the supply pump primed, and means for admitting air to the eduction pump chamber when the pumps are at rest.

l0. In a marine water closet, a bowl having a rim flushing channel, a rotaryY Suppl57 pump connected to supply water to said rim, an eduction pump connected to Withdraw the bowl contents, both said pumps being located above the bottom of the bowl outlet, and said ednction pump having a greater capacity than the Supply pump, means 'loi operating said pumps in unison, means foi' keeping;` the supplT pump constantly primed, and a pipe leading from tbe intake of the eduction pump to the connection between tbe supply pump and the rim channel.

ll. lln a marine water cloaet, :i bowl baviru; a. Vim llusliiulv cbanncb a rotary `auppl)r pump connected lo Supply natci to said rim, an eductiou pump connected to witbdraw the bowl contente, botli said pumps being located above the bottom ot the bowl outlet, and said eduction pump having a greater capacity7 than tbe supply pump, means for operating said pumps in unison, means for keeping the supply pump constantly primed, and a pipe leading from the intake of the eduction pump to tbe con nection between the supply pump and tbe rim channel, said connection having a i'estricted portion for accelerating the flow and Said pipe extending into said restricted poi-tion and having its open end facing in the direction ol Water flow.

'lit ln a marine water closet, a bowl lluviupr a. rim flushing channel, a rotary supplyV pump connected to tnippljyv Water to :aid rim, an ednctionpulm connected to witbdlaw the bowl content botll said pumps being located above tbe bottom of tbe bowl, and said eduction pump having' a greater cal'iacity than tbc Supply pump. means rlol ,)pciating Quid pumps in uniaon. means los' liocpiilgif the SupplyY pump cunsmnily pxiuxcrl. and a pipo leading 'from tbc intake ol tbc cduction pump lo tbc comlccliou bctn'ccu tbe supply pump and tbe i'iln cbanncl, said pipe having a Strainer embodied in its` com nection with tbe @duction pump.

In testimon1 whereof I allix my aigi'uature.

ULYSSES (l. Lll, 

